How do I get figure Reference?

[wickeddiana]

So here is my situation.

I am an aspiring illustrator. I specialize mostly in fantasy art. I am decent at drawing figures, altough I still struggle with hands and feet. My problem is that I don't have suficient photo reference to make the dynamic poses I first invision in my head. I know that if I had more reference to work with, I could really do much better with my fantasy characters. I try to find reference where I can, mainly magazines, certain stock photo sites, anatomy books, pose books and I even photograph myself for some things.
But I do get tired of using myself for reference. I don't want all my characters to look like me. Also I can't always find the pose I am looking for.
I don't really know anyone I could use for what I am trying to do, and I get kinda shy asking total strangers if they could pose for me. I am also too broke at the moment to pay professional models.

I am wondering if anyone else knows a way around this problem. I would like some advice. I would really appreciate any insight anyone can give me.

[MephistoLV]

You don't need photo reference as much as you need knowledge of artistic anatomy. Study Bridgeman, Peck, Loomis. Learn how the body is constructed and learn how to construct it in any position. Reference is just that...it is only a guide in illustration. If reference were intended to be exactly the same as the final piece you envision, then all illustration would just be photography. Get it?

[JQP]

I'll ignore the risk of offending and get right to the useful advice:

Take advantage of the fact that men love looking at images of naked women.

The Web is awash with free photos of people, you just have to get over any hangups. Try www.freeones.com. With a broadband connection and some free downloading software (try download.com (I get by with Downthemall! for Firefox and Getright when that doesn't serve)) your problem will become how to sort/search your massive collection.

[wickeddiana]

You don't need photo reference as much as you need knowledge of artistic anatomy. Study Bridgeman, Peck, Loomis. Learn how the body is constructed and learn how to construct it in any position. Reference is just that...it is only a guide in illustration. If reference were intended to be exactly the same as the final piece you envision, then all illustration would just be photography. Get it?

Well I do have knowledge of anatomy to a degree. Thats not really the big problem. And I know that reference is not supposed to be copied. I just think that in order to get a certain sense of realism, reference is needed. I don't just copy anything. I like to use reference to get the light ans darks right and to get the real feeling behind a human pose. If I just do it out of my head, I always end up drawing the same poses over and over again.

[wickeddiana]

I'll ignore the risk of offending and get right to the useful advice:

Take advantage of the fact that men love looking at images of naked women.

The Web is awash with free photos of people, you just have to get over any hangups. Try www.freeones.com. With a broadband connection and some free downloading software (try download.com (I get by with Downthemall! for Firefox and Getright when that doesn't serve)) your problem will become how to sort/search your massive collection.

You definitely did not offend me. Although I'm a woman, I also prefer to draw females more than males. They're just more fun draw. :)

I don't like downloading stuff I don't know because of viruses and such. But I'll take a look at that websites you mentioned.
Thanks

[JQP]

You're welcome. In my experience, viruses in images aren't a big deal as long as one has good anti-virus software.

As for subject matter, depending on how "unoffendable" you are, you can find ref for guys too. ;)

[chobomaster]

-Poser software
-sculpi or play doh
-that spiderman action figure (with movable joints and fingers)

[wickeddiana]

Okay I have checked out the site you mentioned and it was quite pornagraphic. I'm not so much offended by it. I just don't use those kind of poses in my art. I try to stay away from the typical "girls and monsters" fantasy art. Way too erotic for what I'm looking for.

[Balooga]

Have you checked out the stock images at deviantART? Here's the link:

deviantART stock photos (http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/stockart/model/?order=5)

Amongst the crap, you'll find some very good high-rez figure reference photos there. They are mostly clothed, but there are some nude ones too.

[wickeddiana]

oKay these poses are actually not too bad--closer to what I'm looking for. Thanks for the link. Ill definitely look through them all.

[Maestro Andres]

In regards of what chobomaster said about using Poser, there is also DAZ studio 3d which does similar things and you can get the base model and program for free. Don't think it is very accurate as photo reference but it helps.

Also, I agree with using Stock images from Deviantart. One I find useful is the following: http://mjranum-stock.deviantart.com/ (Have to be a member of DA to see the images since is NSFW). The poses are great and his models are extremely beautiful, which can be an up or down depending on what you are aiming.

Anothe descent site is www.characterdesigns.com

[wickeddiana]

Wow thanks for the link. Those are some really good poses.